1 February, 2007
Q, I've forgotten so much about what we were doing-- helllllppp!
Is the post below (from your old PM) mostly a correction/additional detail on the post that follows it, or it it now obsolete because later posts replace it? Should I edit this post's material into a later post, and if so which one?
I've inserted more comments and questions in this post, below.
Please advise.
~SH~
Input from Q via PM: Down-East books by Pullen; Masato says that these two Pullen books are mostly "white" spirituals. Pullen also wrote "White and Negro Spirituals," 1944 (Da Capo, 1975) but Masato says most are not quoted in full.
Items on your list. "People's---" This is Hille, Waldemar, ed., 1948 and reissues, "People's Song Book." Boni & Gaer1948, Sing Out 1950s; Oak Pub. 1961 and later. Foreward by Lomax, Intro. by Botkin. 100 songs with chords and part scores. Popular songs include "Union Maid," "On Top of Old Smoky," "Strange Fruit," etc.
Phillips, R. E., Campbell, Dunbar, Burleigh, 1901, "Plantation Melodies Old and New." Sheet music for seven songs. RARE and expensive.
Fenner, T. P., (1874*), 1891rev, 1909rev, 1918rev, "Religious Folk Songs of the Negro as Sung on the Plantations." Hampton Inst. Press. All editions prior to 1927 revision by Dett are rare.
Dett, R. N., ed., 1927 and reprints, "Religious Folk Songs of the Negro as Sung at Hampton Institute." Hampton Inst. Press, reprint by AMS Press, NY. The best edition with all the songs added as revisions were made. 1874*, Armstrong, M. F. and Ludlow, H. W., 1874, Hampton and its Students, with Fifty Cabin and Plantation Songs arr. by T. P. Fenner. G. P. Putnam, NY ONLINE with songs by Fenner- http?;;docsouth.unc.edu/church/armstrong/menu.html
Rolling Along in Song- By J. Rosamond Johnson. Listed 4 may.
Ballanta-Taylor, N. G., 1925, "Saint Helena Island Spirituals," G. Schirmer, NY
Scribner Radio Music Library, The, Wier, A. E., Ed.- There are eight volumes. Music arranged for piano. II is Modern compositions, IV is Grand Opera, VI is modern dance, V is light opera and ballet, etc. VII is songs from the operas, and some sacred music (? some hymns and spirituals??). Doubtful value in the list.
Second book- already listed under Johnson and Johnson.
Second Treas-- Reed, W. L., 1967, "Second Treasury of Christman Music." Emerson Books. "46 Christmas Favorites of which 21 are traditional carols and spirituals."
Niles, John J., 1929, "Seven Negro Exultations as sung by Marion Kerby and J. J. Niles," Schirmer, NY. Sheet music, 15 pp., 4to. RARE, expensive.
Fisher, William Arms, 1926, "Seventy Negro Spirituals" (low voice). Large 4to sheet music, 212 pp. Oliver Ditson Co.
" " " " "" (high voice). 212 pp., Oliver Ditson Co. (Getting very scarce.
Grant, R. E., 1973, "Sing Along Senior Citizens." Chas. C. Thomas, Pub., comb binding, 108 pp. Not seen.
Sing America ?? Found one 12 p. pamphlet with this title; patriotic songs.
Sing of America?? Not found.
Boette, Marie, ed., 1971, "Singa Hipsy Doodle and other Folk Songs of West Virginia," McClain Printing. Includes spirituals and religious songs, ballads, children's, etc.
Brand, Oscar, 1957, "Singing Holidays, The Calendar in Folk Song." Knopf. (3-4 songs for each holiday), 258 pp. Not seen.
Kemp, David, 1950, "Skiers Song Book," Pacific Books. 80 pp. Not seen, but of doubtful value.
Slave songs- some already listed. Checking with Masato about Silverman books.
Allen, Slave Songs of the United States, The Complete Original Collection, New Piano Acc, and guitar Chords. I recommended this, but forgot to mention that these piano acc. and chords were by Irving Schlein. Available from Amazon but edition running out.
This entry on Slave Songs of the United States confused me because I could find no such edition. The citation is incorrect. Should be:
Silverman, Jerry, 1993, "Slave Songs (Traditional Black Music)." Chelsea House, 64 pp., "For Young Adults." It is NOT the book by Ware et al. with Allen's collection, although it does have some of them, along with others.
I found an interesting edition of Allen, Slave songs:
Allen, W, F., Ware, C. P., and L. M. Garrison. "Slave Songs of the United States, the complete original collection (136 songs). New Piano Acccompaniments and Guitar Chords. Oak Pub. NY.
The original: Allen, W. F., Ware, C. P., and Garrison, L. M., 1867, Slave Songs of the United States, A. Simpson, NY. A good paperback ed.- Applewood Books, P. O. Box 365, Bedford, MA 01730, for $9.95 (or your friendly Amazon). The "free" online edition should be listed: http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/allen/allen.html
Books not on list: Fisher, M. M., 1953, 1991, "Negro Slave Songs in the United States," Citadel Press. A selection, with discussion.
Fisher, M. M., 1948, "The Evolution of Slave Songs of the United States." (Rare, not seen)
Cooper, Michael L., "Slave Spirituals and the Jubilee Singers." Not seen.
Cable, George Washington, 1886, "Creole Slave Songs." Century Magazine. Reprint. Not seen.
Cable, G. W., 1974 reprint, "The Dance in Place Congo and Creole Slave Songs," Faruk von Turk Press. Not seen.
Hatfield, Edwin F., 1940, "Freedom's Lyre, or Psalms, Hymns and Sacred Songs for the Slave and His Friends". Ayer Co. Pub.
I still prefer author first- this pulls closely related items together. Burleigh and Johnsons are examples:Your ref. 'Negro Spirituals,' Burleigh. Incorrect title, and there are three or more books: -Burleigh, H. T., 1917 and reprints, "Album of Negro Spirituals Arranged for Solo Voice (Low)". 12 songs. Also each song bound and issued separately as individual sheet music by Ricordi. -Burleigh, H. T., 1917, "The Celebrated Negro Spirituals, Ten Songs for Medium Voice." UK ed. by Ricordi & Co. -Burleigh, H. T., ? date, "--- for High voice." Maecenas Pub. (Can't find full title).
1 February, 2007
Q, I've been thinking about some typographical approaches that will help us straighten out that issue. No matter how we do it, some people will wish we'd done it the other way. So of course I'm interested in doing it with the least processing possible. I think we can make it work whichever way we do it, if I use typefaces and colors to make it easy for people to see what they want.
~SH~
--------------------- -Johnson, J. Weldon and Johnson, J. Rosamond, 1953, "The Books of American Negro Spirituals," including "The Book of American Negro Spirituals" and "The Second Book of Negro Spirituals," Viking Press, -Johnson, J. W. & Johnson, J. Rosamond, 1925, "The Book of American Negro Spirituals," Viking Press -Johnson, J. Weldon, and Johnson, J. Rosamond, 1926, "The Second Book of Negro Spirituals," Viking Press. -Johnson, J. Rosamond, 1937, "Rolling Along in Song, A Chronological Survey of American Negro Music." Includes spirituals, shouts, jubilees, etc.; music and lyrics. An important work. She did all the arrangements for the two books on spirituals. --------------------------?Your entry 'Fisk Jubilee Songs'? Marsh, J. B. T., 1883, 1892, Dover reprint, "Jubilee Singers and Their Songs." History and 139 songs in four-part arrangement.
(Several cheap knock-offs, including "Negro Spirituals," or The Songs of the Jubilee Singers, W. J. Gibbs, England. These lack the notes of the Marsh original. Another, also 'by W. J. Gibbs' is "Negro Spirituals or the Emancipation of the Slaves in the Southern States of America with a series of brief readings---." These did not contribute to Fisk).
Solomon, Olivia and Jack, ed., 1991, "Honey in the Rock," The Ruby Pickins Tartt Collection of Religious Folk Songs from Sumter County, Alabama," Mercer University Press.
There is no book by Southern entitled 'Honey in the Rock.' Are some references run together?? I did find: -Southern, Eileen, 1971, "Readings in Black American Music," 302 pp., W. W. Norton Press. -Southern, Eileen, 1883, 1989, "The Music of Black Americans, A History." 602 pp. in latest enlarged ed. W. W. Norton & Co. Includes several scores, but mostly a history of all types of black music.
------------------
Finally got the complete reference on this one, from Masato and book dealer friend who has it on a customer's want list. Already scarce and not listed for sale by any dealer:
On your list, as- Slave Songs of the United States William Frances Allen et, al. Ed. Jerry Silverman, Chelsea House 1994 Should be:
Schlein, Irving, Ed., 1994, Slave Songs of the United States, the Complete Original Collection (136 songs), 1994. New Piano Accompaniments and Guitar Chords. Chelsea House, reprint by Oak Pub.
Note: No Oak copy available either. I think Oak has folded or been absorbed. Does NOT contain comments found in the original and reprints of Allen's book (Masato). Music is reset by Schlein. Silverman was NOT editor; his name does not appear on the title page. Schlein was editor. Inside the book, Silverman is credited with adding guitar chords.
I will get back to list later today, but I was happy to get this one cleared up.
Silverman did write a book, which is listed at the top of the list I sent 4 May. Silverman, Jerry, 1993, "Slave Songs (Traditional Black Music)" Chelsea House, 64 pp., "For Young Adults." It seems also that few copies were printed of this one, only two copies located, both in library bindings.
(I may ask that your list be declared a danger to financial security- it has led to about $150 in book purchases already) Q
------------
Books only incidentally containing a few spirituals; of little or no value to the list. (No order to these notes. S means I have seen them).1 February, 2007
Noted, and I'll take them out at some point.~SH~
Seeger, Pete, American Favorite Ballads S Luther, Americans and Their Songs. A book of old favorites. S Grosset and Dunlap, Best-Loved--- No value S Agay, ed. No value, just old pop Book of a thousand songs- No. Old Oaken Bucket and similar. S Sing out and Collected Reprints. A few, but not much use as books on spirituals. Keep on list for those with only cursory interest? Dell Book of Great --- More Old Oaken Bucket stuff. No Everybody's Favorite---Amsco. For beginner pickers, etc. No Peter Smith: Faith, Folk and Nativity; and Clarity- British . A few, but of little value to Af-Am. No Folk Song USA. This is Lomax, John and Alan, The 111 Best American Ballads! with words, music, tall yarns, etc. No Folk Song Abecedary. No. S Folk Songs N. Am sings- No Folk Songs of North America. Lomax. Spirituals a very small part as you probably know. S
Folk Songs of the Americas. Oak. A good little folk song book, UNESCO, in a set that I have, but I didn't identify it easily because of the poor citation. Should be Lloyd, A. L. and Ramon Y Rivera, 1965, "Folk Songs of the Americas," Novello & Co., London. Oak has reprinted this one only of the set. Only nine spirituals in the U. S. section; most songs from Latin America and Canada. Little use here. S
Guitar Songbook No Hard-hitting Songs--- Lomax et al. Mostly Depression stuff. No Heart Songs. A nice old book with many songs, over 500 pages (1909 date) but Negro section is minstrel and Foster and one abolitionist - KIngdom C. For white middle class with no interest or liking for Negro spirituals at that time. S Heritage Songster No. S Holiday Songbook. A few. Mostly the usual carols, etc. No. Jery Silverman's. No S Joan Baez Songbook. Has a couple of spirituals. S No Let's All Sing, Leisy. No Misc. Choral Sheet Music. No Music Americans Sing, Silver Burdett. A few. Camp songs, old songs, mostly for students. No S Music in Our History- Can't find this title in any list, so- NO
New American Songbag, Sandburg. This is a supplement. Two spirituals in versions that don't appear elsewhere. Will be on the keep list for that reason. S
Noel: Joan Baez. No S
I wonder if some sort of separation into primary -Fenner, Work, Johnsons, Marsh (Fisk), Solomon, etc. and secondary references- fake books, '1000 songs,' Baez etc. might help? There are hundreds which have just one or a few.1 February, 2007
Q, I agree we need to set up some categories, and again I've been thinking about the typographical options that can help us. I was thinking along two lines myself-- first, highlighting in some way the books considered most essential to a reasonable personal library. Second, I keep thinking that the original year of publication is important, especially to performers. I would want to know, for instance, how close to original slave-times a given commentary was. But rather than making these sections, I think again that typefaces and colors will help. Also I can find some HTML symbols all browsers can read, to tag entries-- IF you can advise on correct tagging. ~SH~